Morgan Freeman Responds To Multiple Sexual Harassment Claims In New Statement

Morgan Freeman is speaking out.

On Friday, May 25, 2018, the actor released a second statement denying recent allegations after being accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women.

"I am devastated that 80 years of my life is at risk of being undermined, in the blink of an eye, by Thursday's media reports," Freeman stated (via E! News). "All victims of assault and harassment deserve to be heard. And we need to listen to them. But it is not right to equate horrific incidents of sexual assault with misplaced compliments or humor. I admit that I am someone who feels a need to try to make women — and men — feel appreciated and at ease around me."

The statement continued, "As a part of that, I would often try to joke with and compliment women, in what I thought was a light-hearted and humorous way. Clearly I was not always coming across the way I intended. And that is why I apologized Thursday and will continue to apologize to anyone I might have upset, however unintentionally."

"But I also want to be clear: I did not create unsafe work environments," Freeman concluded. "I did not assault women. I did not offer employment or advancement in exchange for sex. Any suggestion that I did so is completely false."

As Nicki Swift previously reported, eight women accused Freeman of sexual harassment in a CNN report on Thursday, May 24, 2018. The accusers, many of whom cited the #MeToo movement as inspiring and empowering them to come forward with their allegations now, made claims of inappropriate comments and unwanted touching. Eight others served as eyewitnesses of the actor's alleged "pattern of inappropriate behavior" on movie sets, during press junkets, or at his Revelations production company.

Later that day, Freeman denied the allegations through his rep. "Anyone who knows me or has worked with me knows I am not someone who would intentionally offend or knowingly make anyone feel uneasy," he stated (via The Hollywood Reporter). "I apologize to anyone who felt uncomfortable or disrespected — that was never my intent."